As the heading says, it's been a bit hectic. Did some "Type training" this morning. Seven o'clock start!! Spent a couple of hours with a driving instructor and went for some little drives in examples of the different vehicle types which the fleet contains. Single deck Volvo B10 bus, Volvo B10 coach, Volvo double-deck bus, Dennis Dart single-deck bus and Mercedes midi-bus (or "stretched limo" as it's known in the trade!) One of my more varied Sunday mornings.
Spent last week route learning. There were a couple of 12 hour days in there, pretty tiring I can tell you. Some days were spent travelling around and making notes whilst others were spent with a mentor. On these days my colleague would drive the route once or twice with me taking over once I'd got the directions in my head.
Driving several different vehicles in one day on different routes is quite an undertaking. Even more so when the majority are over ten years old and worn out. No 2 vehicles of the same type drive in a remotely similar manner. Add that to trying to get to grips with the "Wayfarer" ticket machine, attempting to not take any wrong turnings and trying to stay on time and you can see why I'm nigh on worn out! A second week of it begins tomorrow!
3 comments:
Good luck mate...I joined up over thirty years ago, telling myself it would tide me over for a couple of years...whoops
I drive a bus too, I have for about 4 and a half years. I drive in the US though. I cover people's runs when they are out so I too had to learn many runs. You are right that no 2 buses are identical. They may look identical but they are not!
just read your blogs..that first 6 months really took it out on me..i work for rossendale transport..passed me test in june 07...one of the best things that ever happened to me..i enjoyed doing the vehicle familiarisation along with the route training..keep up with your blogs..they make good reading
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